Water tank debate
19 February 2007 | Brighton, UK
Colin Wright
Message to George: Thanks for the thoughts and for being the first person to ever respond to our Blog! You'll now be an honary Emerald crew mate for ever.
We've debated further about our water tank problem, and like the idea of a flexible tank if we can cut the old one out in pieces. There is a tool called a 'nibbler' (no really there is) which will cut through 2.5mm stainless steel. This should be man enough to eat its way through our tank, and you can hire one locally. This would mean we don't have to cut out the floors (yippee) and can then cut the tank out with little disruption to the interior of the boat. I know that flexible tanks aren't as reliable but it would be less than 40% of our tankage and we can ration if it bursts, therefore I'm not too worried. The thought of cutting out the floors is too big a job to contemplate at the minute. We'd rather finish our plumbing and get on with doing some more prep for sailing (we've a lot to do between now and May to make sure we get a full season in before the off next year). It is true work is the curse of the sailing classes.
We still have to complete the following to get ready for the season:
1. plumbing including tiling the head
2. install windlass
3. modify cockpit canopy
4. install shower pumps and washdown pump
5. install cockpit chart plotter (including fixing radar clutter)
6. cut out tank, fibreglass tank space and install flexible tank
7. install lashing boards for jerry cans
8. service mainsail slides and fix gooseneck
9. complete engine sea trials...........
10. interface instruments correctly
to name but a few!
Gosh and blimey!
Cheers colin